Google Announces Piracy Crackdown

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Piracy continues to be a ongoing issue on the internet, and it’s especially difficult to tamp down. Still, Google has announced that they are redoubling their efforts against copyright infringment.

“As the web has grown, we have seen a growing number of issues relating to infringing content,” writes Kent Walker, General Counsel for Google. “We respond expeditiously to requests to remove such content from our services, and have been improving our procedures over time. But as the web grows, and the number of requests grows with it, we are working to develop new ways to better address the underlying problem.”

Google indicates they will respond quickly to copyright infringement requests, will improve Autocomplete and AdSense to try and edge out pirates and will help put up authorized content more. They promise these changes will come over the next four months.

“These changes build on our continuing efforts, such as Content ID, to give rightsholders choice and control over the use of their content, and we look forward to further refining and improving our processes in ways that help both rightsholders and users,” notes Walker.

Source: Googlepublicpolicy.Blogspot.com

Phil Harrison Sees High Quality Browser Games In ‘Five-To-Ten Years’

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Phil Harrison has long been an outspoken proponent of online and network gaming. Not suprisingly then, the London Venture Partners co-founder thinks that a browser-based game will approach Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in quality.

“I think the answer is yes,” said Harrison. “I think in the next five-to-ten years we will easily get this level of game inside a web browser, on your mobile platform, on your iPad, and we will be able to deliver that level of immersion to any kind of screen.”

To Harrison, the next big conflict will not be for home console hardware, but for online browsers. He suggested the competition will be as fierce as it was between Netscape and Internet Explorer in the ’90s.

“The gathering storm that I m talking about is about the technology that is going to go into a web browser that is going to power very rich, very impressive gameplay,” said Harrison. “Somebody is going to win. Somebody is going to deliver console level 3D graphics, video and audio into a web browser. That will be the tipping point for the evolution of our industry that will accelerate what we can do in a browser, and I think will create the next generation platform for games.”

Source: Develop

L.A. Noire: ‘Big Update Soon’

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Rockstar impressed many with their recent reveal of L.A. Noire.  With only a few months away until its release, there are many questions about the detective game that still loom.

For one, everyone is wondering how the amazing face-mimicking was accomplished, and it looks like Rockstar will pull back the curtain on that. Look for a big update soon with a special look behind the technology of the game, wrote Rockstar in their blog.

Assassin’s Creed III Hinted At In Survey

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A survey may have tipped off some of the potential features for the next game in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. While a lot of different options were chosen for multiplayer, both online and off for co-op and competitive play, the more interesting topics dealt with other issues.

For instance, the idea was proposed for Eagle Vision to give even more details and for free-running to be even faster and more fluid. Other potential ideas include bomb crafting, territorial disputes with Templars and the idea of whether or not to continue the story of Ezio.

Source: CVG

TirNua Acquired By RockYou

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RockYou has announced their acquisition of TirNua. The 3D engine technology and team will devolp new social games for RockYou.

“TirNua has built a fantastic team of engineers but the most satisfying thing is to see your technology in the hands of millions of players,” said Greg Kearney formerly President of TirNua, now VP of Engineering at RockYou. “RockYou is an industry leader whose scale of users will allow us to reshape social gaming faster than we could do on our own.”

“TirNua’s powerful technology will deliver a robust gaming experience for our players,” said Lisa Marino, Chief Operating Officer at RockYou. “We believe the pace of innovation for social gaming has accelerated in the last six months and 3D experiences using synchronous play will deliver 2011 s richest experiences. We welcome the TirNua team to the RockYou family and know their experience will add valuable development and design skill to our company DNA.”

Kane & Lynch Will Not Disappear

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Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days was a very divisive game, some liking its gritty style but others deriding it as short and unoriginal. According to Eidos life president Ian Livingstone, it’s so-so reception by critics and at retail won’t end the franchise.

“We haven’t made any announcements about Kane & Lynch going forward, but we all know that Kane and Lynch are two amazing characters who have a lot of brand equity,” said Livingstone. “People like those guys, so they’re not going to disappear.”

“Kane & Lynch 2 clearly had a Marmite effect on people,” Livingstone added. “You either loved it or hated it. Some people liked the juddering camera, home video style. Others absolutely hated it. Some loved the characters. Some didn’t like the characters, but it’s artistic, thrill-a-minute instant action stuff. I thought it was a great game, but I can understand people might not have liked it.”

Source: MCV

Ubisoft Talks Initial Retailer Uncertainty With Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

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Assassin s Creed: Brotherhood sold a million copies in Europe in less than a week, making it Ubisoft’s fastest-selling title in that territory. Ubisoft EMEA sales and marketing head Geoffroy Sardin said that this has silenced doubters who didn’t think the game was a full sequel.

“At first retailers were unsure they didn t realize it was a full sequel, not just AC2.5 ,” he said. “But slowly through PR and discussions with them we have proven this is a new Assassin’s Creed and a completely sequel, not just an add-on. The sales bear that out now, and retailers tell us they are very confident in it.”

Source: MCV

Playfish Talks Pain With Facebook Credits

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EA owned Playfish has signed up for Facebook Credits, reducing their cut of the profits. Still, Playfish’s European Studio head John Earner ultimately understands the changes.

“Ultimately, it will be a good thing. Short term it s painful, of course, but mid to long term, anything that takes the friction out of the purchase process will work to our advantage. It s so easy to use that I can imagine in 6-12 months we will see a large lift in conversions from non-spender to spender. The pain comes with a promise,” said Earner. “And that promise is that over time we re going to see massive increases in those conversion rates. I don’t think that’s a pipe dream. It makes a lot of sense.”

“I think there’s a certain amount of stability that Facebook’s got to offer its development community to justify increased investment,” he continued. “The changes they made are necessary and I understand them, but the way they get announced and the rapidity with which they get made or unmade sometimes is disconcerting. I’m sure it’s very hard to be sitting on something that’s growing that quickly, but the health of the platform needs increased stability. On payments, for example, we need to be assured that the deal is the deal and that it won t change in six months.’

Source: MCV